Packing and shipping case for garments



'Apr. 3; 1923.

J. T. BATTS PACKING AND SHIPPING CASE on GARMEN'IS Filed Apr. 28, 1919 4 sheets-sheet} ammwtop:

701511 T210111 (I 5B nits Apr. 3, 1923.

J. T. BATTS PACKING AND SHIPPING CASE FOR GARMENTS 4 sheets-sheet 5 Filed Apr. 28 1919 Apr. 3, 1923. 1,450,708

J. T. BATTS PACKING'AND SHIPPING CASH FOR GARMENTS Filed Apr. 28, 1919 4 sheets-sheet 4 porting means in position; is to provide means the garments in the Patented Apr. 3, 1923.1

umm STATES ATE OFFICE.

Joan 'rn omsmr'rs, or enmnnarrn s, MICHIGAN.

m; m smrrrne casnron omens.

application flied A ril as, 191 Serial 115.2939.

To all whom it concern:

Be it known that-I, JOHN TnoMAs BATES,

a citizen of the United States, residing at Grand Rapids, in the county of Kent and State ofMichiga-n, have invented new and useful Improvements in Packing and Ship-' ping Cases for Garments, of whichthe following is a specification. 1

The resent invention relates to packing andshipping cases for garments; and its object is: to provide such'a casehaving means for securely holding the garments therein against movement; a furtherobject is to provide means for supportlng hangers for is toprovide means for securing such supa further object such supporting means while the hangers with garments thereon are being placed on said supporting means; a further object 1s to provide means tion finds preferable embodiment in, the structures hereinafter particularly described and illustrated bythe accompanying drawing s, in which igure 1 "s a view in perspective of a packing and shipping case for garments;

Figure 2 is a longitudinal central vertical section ofthe same, the garment hangers and their supporting means not being sectioned;

Figure 3 is a transverse vertical section of the same taken on a plane corresponding to the line A-A of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a'longitudinal horizontal section of such a case having outwardly bulgingends taken on a plane corresponding to line of Figure 5, certain parts being broken away;

case; a further object for temporarily holding for properly positioningthe supporting means in registration-with the securing means therefor; a further ob'-.

hereinafter described; a further object is Figure 5 is a longitudinal vertical section of. the same taken on planes corresponding to l1ne C--C of Figure 4, certain parts not being sectioned;

Figure 's a transverse vertical section of the same taken on a plane corresponding to line D D of Figures 4 and 5;

Figure '7 is a longitudinal horizontal section of a portionflof such a case illustrating means for retaining the garments between such means and the'hangers;

Figure {8 is a view in perspective of similar retaining means adapted-to be inserted into the case;

Figure 9 is a view in perspective of a packing and shipping case for garments showing a modified construction;

Figure 10 is a transverse vertical section of the same taken on a plane corresponding to line E-E of Figure 9;

Figure 11 is a longitudinal vertical section of a portion of the same taken on a plane corresponding to line 'G. G of Figure 9; 1

Figure 12 is a horizontal section of a portion of the same taken on a plane corresponding to line H--H of Figure 11;

Figure 13 is a vertical section of a. por tion of the same taken on a plane corresponding to line II of Figure 9-;

Figure 14 is a plan view of a modified form of the. positioning member for the hangers supporting means;

- Figure 15 is a view in perspective of -'spring-means for holding the garments on the bottom of the case;

Figure 16 is, a plan view of a portion of the same; I

-l;igure 17- is a side viw of a tilting table E0121 supporting the case while being filled; an

Figure 18 is a side view of the parts of the knockdown case secured together for shipment. 1 i

In the embodiment of the invention chosen for illustration by the drawings and for detailed description in the body of this ,s cification,-Fig'ures 1, 2 and 3 show a pac ing and shipping case 1 having rectangular ends. This case is of. knockdown construction, having a bottom 2, sides 3, ends 4 and cover-'5, assembled as by screws 6, each said part having a body portion? preferably of suitable fibre material and strengthening ribs 8preferably of wood. v

a In Figures 4, 5, 6 and 7 a telescoping case is s own whose body 9 and telescopin cover 10 are preferably of like fibre materl'a strengthened with wooden ribs 11; the cases 5 in Figures 4, 5 and6 have outwardly bulging ends'12as shown. Both forms of cases illustrated contain adjacent, each end supports for the: garment hangers 13, such supports being in the form of posts 14 secured ,0 against lateral movement on the bottom of the cases, as by a pin 15 driven'through'the cases bottomas shown in Figure 5, or by .the'lower end of the posts being seated in. sockets 16 in the bottoms of the'cases' a 15 shown in Figures 2 and 3. i

The hangers 13 have sustaininghooks 17 of common form engaging and supported by the posts 14. The garments, as the mens coats 18 and trousers 19, may be placed on 20 the hangers and a file thereof laid in the bottom of the case, whereupon a detached post 14 (see Figure 2) is thrust downwardly through the registering hooks and its lower end is seated in the socket 16 in the cases 26 bottom: or the post being attached to the said bottom as in Figure 5, the garments on the hangers are laid in the case, the books of the ham rs being passed over the upper end of the )post. The garments on their so, hangers being now *in the case, the upper end of the post is moved laterally into reg-- istration with an orifice 20 in the positioning member 21 formed preferably of fibre material and hooked over or otherwise attached to the upper edge of the ends of the cases body: the member 21 is now turned downwardly causing the upper end of the post tp be held in said members orifice 20, In placing the garments in the case, they are laid on each other in such manner that the upper or collar portion of one garment 18 is toward one end of the case and the like portion ofthe next vgarment is,tqward the other end of the case, the posts at either end alternately supporting the hangers. When the cover is applied, the upper end 9f the posts 14 enter asocket 31 therein and are thus securely held in position. v

v It will be seen that by this method of packing, the middle and thicker portion of the file of garments bulges upwardly, as

seen in Fi 152i 5.

When the posts areheld by the positioning members 21, garment-holding strips 22 55 may be inserted into the case transversely over the' garments and adjacent and inwardly from the posts at eit'her end of the case. These strips are pressedidown on the portions of the garments crossed thereby, to and are. then secured in that position by suitable means, as by the screws 23 inserted from the outside of "the case and passing 'through orifices therein and screwed into the ends of the strips. A suitable member or sheet 24 maylie on the garments and and by such arrangement of the garments alternately disposed oppositely as to their top or collar portions, the garments are held by the hangers 13, posts 14 and strips 22 against movement and displacement in the case during handling and shipment, and

when removed from the case W111 be found to be smooth and unwrinkled. The strips 22 engaging on opposite sides of the bul inv middle portion of the file of garments hold the same from a tendency to move in mass toward either end of the case, thus relieving the strain of such a movement on the posts and hooks; and the outwardly bulging ends 12 of the case prevent the standing of the case on end. In order to hold the hangers and the garments thereon even more securely against movement or displacement in the case, I

provide second posts 26 adjacent toand par-- allelly disposed relatively to the supporting posts 14 and adapted to engage the outer side of the hooks and hold the same closely on'the posts 14 and also to engage the portion of the hangers which is adjacent the posts 14. These posts 26 may be held in positlon in a manner similar to that employed for securing the posts 14 against lateral movement; namely, the bottom of the posts 26 may be seated in sockets 27 as shown in Figures 2 and 3, or may be fastened by pins 28 as seen in Figure 6: and their upper ends may be positioned by means of an orifice 29 in the positioning member 21 and secured in a socket 330 inthe cover of the case.

A retaining-member 32 extends on opposite sides of the post 14 and engages the shoulderportions of the coat 18, such portions being held between the hanger and said member.' This member may be fixed in thecase as shown in Figure 7 or may be formed as shown in Figure 8 and adapted to be inserted into the case so that its ends abut against and are held by suitable keepers 33 as shown in Figure 4. This member is preferably flexible as indicated in Figure 8.

In Figures 9, 10, 11 and 12 a modified construction of a-,knockdown packing and shipping case is shown: This case has a top 35, bottom 36, sides 37 and outwardly bulging ends 38, each end comprising two members 40, 41, together constituting the outer por-' tion of said end, and an inner portion 42, (preferably oi fibre material) to which said members are fastened edge toward edge. This inner portion being flexible adjacent the meeting edges of the outer members, and preferably creased at 43 thereat as shown in Figure 12, these members 40, 41 may be interrelatively positioned as shown in Figures the hangers supporting posts 45 againstlateral movement are carried by one of the members 41 of the ends 38. These positioning members may be of flexible materialiso that they may be turned in parallel relat on to the members 41 carrying them for shipment in the knockdown condition of the case as shown in Figure 18, ormay be turned into operative position wherein their orifices 46 engage the upper end of said posts. These positioning members may however be formed (as shown in Figure 14) of two hingedly connected pieces, 47 which has the post-engaging orifice, and 48 which is fastened to the upper edge of the.member 4l of the end of the case. Said positioning members may each be providedwith a second orifice 49 adapted to re'ce1ve the upper end of said post when it is swung inwardly as shown in Figure 17, for the purpose hereinafter explained.

In Figure 17 a table 50 tiltably mounted 'at 51 isshown, on which table the case may be supported and held as by the ledges 52 against endwise movement, and for the purpose ofpacking the case with the garments.

The tablewith the case being tilted to'the position shown in solid lines in Figure 17 and the upper ends of the hangers supporting posts 45 being held against lateral movement by being inserted into the openings 49v of the posts positioning members 44 or 47 at the ends of the case respectively, a garment and its hanger may be suspended by the hangers hook on the post at the then upper end of the case; the strip 53 may now be inserted into the case over the lower part of the garment and in contact therewith, the ends of the strip being holdingly pressed against the sides of the case inside. This strip 53 may be thus spring pressed holdingly by any suitable means, as by the spring 54 tending to separate the two ends of the stripas shown in Figure 16. Thetable may now be tilted reversely and to the position shown in dotted lines in Figure 17, the strip 53 preventing the lower part of the garment from falling or folding over the upper part thereof in such tilting of the table.- A second garment on its hanger may now be placed in the case and supported on the other hanger-supporting post, it being now the upper post in this position of the case and table. The strip may now be removed and placed over the lower part of the second garment to retain it in place for the next tilting of the table. This order being repeated until the case is filled to the desired degree, the case is removed from the table and laid down on its bottom. The position ing members 44 or 47 may now be turned up to release the upper ends of the hangers supporting posts, whereupon said ends may be pressed apart and the positioning members turned down to engage said upper ends in the openings or sockets 46 which register with the sockets 55 in the cover or top 35 when it is applied and fastened to the body of the case. It will be seen that such pressing apart of the upper end of said posts draws the file of garments supported on one post in one direction'and the file supported on the other post in the opposite direction and thus straightens out any wrinkling that may have occurred in them in the packing, operation. It is evident that the hangers supporting posts 14 tilted inwardly as is the post shown at the right-hand side of Figure 2 may be pressed apart with the same effect. Posts 58 similar to the posts 26 shown in Figures 2 and 3 may be provided, the same being adapted to be positioned in orifices 63 in the positioning members 44 or 47- and to be seated in sockets in the cover provided in this modified construction.

The top 35, bottom 36, sides 37 and ends 38 of the case being laid together side to side as shown in Figure 18 may be fastened together for storage or shipment in knockdown condition as by the bails 56 fastened as by screws 57 to the outer two ofsaid parts.

In the space, 70 between the ends 38 'the' screws 60. Screws 61 with washers 62 arepreferably employed to assemble'the parts of the case.

It will be seen that by the method of piling and packing the garments above described, the same will lie evenly and closely together in .a pile without wrinklin v or crushing the collars or shoulders. Vifiiere the hanger-containing portions of the garments are all disposed in the same direction in the pile, the pile is thicker at the hangers, whereas by my method the thickness of the pile is uniform. When shipped in a case, the garments piled and packed by my improved -'method are in much less danger of shifting in the case, when the case is turned on end, and the weight is evenly distributed in the case. When the hangers are held in alignment in the case, as by the rods to which they are removably attached, the shifting of the garments is even more efiectually prevented, as it is also by binding the pile of garmentstogether between the oppositely disposed hangers, as described.

The invention being intended to be pointed out in the claims is not to be limited to or by details of construction shown or deports for the hangers inside the case and adjacent the ends thereof respectively, and severally adapted to removably support a plurality of said hangers, and so interrelatively positioned that the lower portion only of garments carried by the hangers supported on the support adjacent one end of the case overlie the lower portion only of garments carried by the hangers supported on the support adjacent the other end of the case; garn'ient-holding strips removably secured to the case inside, and extending transversely over the garments therein, and positioned inwardly from and adjacent to the supports at the ends of the case respectively, and adapted to hold the garments on the bottom of the case.

' 2. In a garment packing and shipping case; a plurality of garment hangers; supports for the hangers inside the, case and adjacent the ends thereof respectively, and severally adapted to removably support said hangers, and so interrelatively positioned that the lower portion only of garments carried by the hangers supported on the support adjacent one end of the case overlie the lower portion only of garments carried by the hangers supported on the support adjacent the other end of the case; garment-holding strips removably secured to the case inside, and extending transversely over the upper portion of the garments therein, and positioned inwardly from and adjacent to the supports at theends of the case respectively, and adapted to hold the garments on the bottom of the case; av flexible member overlying the garments and under the strips.

3. In a garment packing and shipping case; a plurality of garment hangers; a supporting post swingably carried inside the case for removably supporting the hangers and held at one end on the bottom of the case against lateral movement; means adjacent the top of the case for holding the other end of the post in swung position.

4. In a garment packing and shipping case having a body and a removable cover' provided with a socket; a plurality of garment hangers; a supporting post swingably carried inside the body for removably supporting the hangers and held at one end on the body against lateral movement, its other end being adapted to be seated and held against swinging movement in the socket in the assembled position of the body and cover. 5. In a garment packing and shipping case; a plurality of garmenthangers having sustaining hooks; a supporting post inside the case for the hangers and adapted to be detachably engaged by said hooks; a second post parallelly disposed relatively to the supporting post and adapted to hold the hooks closely on the supporting post against detaching movement in a direction transverse to the posts.

6.'In a garment packing and shipping case having ends, at least one of which is outwardly bulging; a plurality of garment hangers; supports for the hangers inside the case and adjacent the ends thereof respectively, and severally adapted to removably support a plurality of said hangers, and so interrelatively positioned that the lower portion only of garments carried by the hangers supported on the support adjacent one end of the case overlie the lower portion only of garments carried by the hangers supported on the support adjacent the other end of the case.

7. In a garment packing and shipping case; a plurality of garment hangers; a sup,- porting post inside the case for removably supporting the hangers and held against lateral movement at one end on the bottom of the case; means adjacent the top of the case for positioning the other end of the supporting post in a plurality of lateral positions.

8. A garment packing and shipping case having a detachable end comprising flexibly connected members; a plurality of garment hangers; a supporting post inside the case for removably supporting the hangers and held against lateral movement at one end on the bottom of the case; means adjacent the top of said detachable end for positioning the other end of the supporting post laterally and being turnable to different positions inside the case'and being carried by one of said members of said detachable end.

In testimon my hand at 26th day of A ril, 1919.

fOHN THOMAS BATTS.

whereof I have hereunto set rand Rapids, Michigan, this 

